“So, Timothy~ I heard you have a crush.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANA9qW6R9vT8U
“Hi Dick.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAHhzWMlasHo
Tim looked up from his book as Dick sat down next to him.
150Please respect copyright.PENANASqYEkkCYya
“Is she cute?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAF3xQ90CQee
“Don’t you have a date with Kore tonight?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAjMBp8roiQC
He shook his head.
“Nah it got canceled, there was a Tamarin holiday she had to go attend.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAbZYMWHbNOn
“And you weren’t invited?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAyfooYuoCl3
“Shocker I know. But we weren’t talking about me.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAiNNoPWRsdQ
A grin crossed his face before the door to the kitchen flew open Jason crossing over to them.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAJKkMnDmoK5
“Let’s go guys.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANA9gC549yRPj
“Uh… where, Jason?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAoKhpii5PrB
“Bruce texted me, Dick, he’s stuck with some chick in traffic downtown, blah blah, bomb threat. Let’s go.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAnn07TOUp85
Tim tilted his head to the side and stood up.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAWC6Fo6OeCs
“It’s not like Bruce to get stuck like that. And where’s Damian, aren’t they supposed to be together? He better not be with Bruce.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANA4I8yRLRYEd
Jason waved his hand dismissively.
“Yeah, yeah whatever. Alfred’ll stay here to watch for him. I’m sure the little monster is fine.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANA4xfFMicqC8
150Please respect copyright.PENANAx9FqS2z21m
“You better not be calling me, a monster Jason.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANApDmRYKr1JK
Tim followed the voice and looked over his book. There stood Damian and Elliot Argus.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAk8KnklxAel
“Elliot shouldn’t you be protecting Bruce?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAOHcbsMNJwE
The white haired man raised an eye before speaking.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA0nbydxfy40
“I’m protecting him from CPS.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAArPME1HroE
Dick stood in between Jason and Damien.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAmSP7sDt5Iv
“Heya Elliot, I know that you're technically off shift now…”
150Please respect copyright.PENANArFYcj0VCr6
“But?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAjVEqXDEg26
“But… can you stay and watch Damien while we go clubbing?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAXMPC9EpTUl
Elliot squinted at them.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAcGKcaaI9uX
“All three of you are going clubbing?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5TqOB3iRV
Dick grabbed Tim’s arm as he protested and pushed Jason past the bodyguard.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAtFUaL1AUca
“Thanks Elliot! Bruce owes you a raise!”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAwdOYkx0pNM
150Please respect copyright.PENANAnTbSUVZe9W
Alone in the kitchen with Damian and Alfred, Elliot spoke.
“I’m going to teach you how to play darts Damien.”
“Sounds fun.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANA0ta0IeEZvG
150Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZtNb7Gvzx
____________
150Please respect copyright.PENANAVS1O5kO649
The three men suited up and found their own mode of transport across the city respectfully. The radios inside of their headgear allowed them to continue the conversation from before, much to Tim’s disappointment.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAKax3xswYc1
“So, Tim. That girl, what was her name?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAs5YUO1GBBX
“If I tell you will you leave it alone?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAK1bUvpWGN5
“Not likely, but I’ll stop asking you.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANApHaBkGY3VY
“It’s Bianca ok. She’s the girl I stopped from getting mugged alright.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAWf2fg22qx0
Jason chimed in at this point.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAelItV8LSBx
“What’s her last name?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAsO0EeG7G8m
“No idea. I didn’t get that far. We’re getting close to Bruce’s signal.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAZwryHNaYSk
Dick sped up to be next to Tim as he pointed to a familiar car with black tinted windows.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAZ0STSb36Hx
“There he is!”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAt3HMy6MqwT
Jason’s voice clicked in.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAoRpoWEXB8B
“Want to pop in? Have some champagne? Steal his date?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAjP1nvwk3Pw
Tim stayed silent as they chatted about this mystery woman that Bruce was with.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA5TqVZ2ZkJN
150Please respect copyright.PENANAXskkkGZ0vZ
They sped around the stopped traffic to where a line of police officers stood. Tim noticed the building that joker had called the threat on. It looked like it was hosting a convention of some kind. He alerted the group while they parked their bikes nearby and went to talk with the gaggle of GCPD units nearby and crowd of people dressed in costumes.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAnRdCTNFp9c
One Hour Earlier...
150Please respect copyright.PENANAipcqMMuDnO
Bianca sat in the crowd of the panel that was talking about the effects of Batman and the “cauldron of helpers.” on the general populace of Gotham.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAdGL2oognJK
Personally she found this topic a bit dull. Just by Batman being here caused more strife because he always saved the day. Which led the people of Gotham to not have the drive to save themselves. Even worse, there was the god complex the citizens offered him.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAVo3IBhaxXy
Surrounded by people of all ages and genders dressed up as the Batman and his various ‘bat family’, Bianca squeezed past feeling she was the only one not in a cosplay. People were even in villain costumes, she saw a few of her fathers, but all were simply poor imitations.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA1LA0owCHeN
Soon she found her goal of getting off her feet with a warm beverage, coco this time. Just as she was taking a sip, she noticed a group of purple clad people with prop guns. That’s what she thought until a chill went up her spine at the sight of the black and red costumed Harley Quinn. She dropped the drink and climbed underneath the table whimpering as she heard a voice comment towards them that their outfits were ‘amazing’.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAn9XGkcWCgC
This was followed by pure chaos.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA0wogwxLVqk
A high pitched laughter, spray of gunshots. Bodies hitting the ground. The smell of copper. Screams.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAFWZli0GRyq
She stayed silent as people walked towards her before she heard the table shift as someone stood on top of it and spoke.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAUX9UvKhkFE
“Convention goers! Identity fraud is a big no-no! Because of this, I’ve hidden a tasty little gift somewhere in the building for you!”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAAhPwyanHUF
“Aww Puddin’ give ‘em a hint!”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAQF3YgkzwCz
“Just this once! The gift I’ve given is so amazing it’ll blow the roof off this place!”
150Please respect copyright.PENANA2Q4qGXJiaf
Another hideous laugh sounded out through the silent room before a different voice cut through.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA7BEGb4yqFj
“Batman will save us, Joker! You don’t stand a chance!”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAwjA159dVr9
BANG.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA83XiQgS1fe
Bianca clenched her jaw and eyes as a gunshot sounded from right above her.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA0WZFeXtmeY
“Oh dear, I think I just killed A Batman. I suppose he wasn’t the real one!”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAZXZBMBbEkC
Another laugh, soon joined in by others, only added to the horror as the screams followed.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAwSTgw6UKKg
“I know! I know! Puddin’! Let’s line ‘em ALL up and for every 5 minutes Batman don’t show up, we kill one!”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAdy1GFbmsBs
“Harley! That’s a wonderful idea! Starting now.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAtimyT4uqT1
He jumped off the table and Bianca watched wide eyed as he grabbed a middle aged man just wearing a shirt emblazoned with the bat symbol and pulled the trigger as his goons took any and everyone in costume and lined them against the wall.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAVgkM4U0pSg
She looked around the room, she had to do something. Everyone was in danger! Think Bianca! What can you do!?
150Please respect copyright.PENANAp0H6tv0alK
Her mind reeled before she remembered the sprinkler machine outside the door closest to her, it was hooked up to the fire department’s system. Then with the noise, she could call for help.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA51qUl9AbOu
It wasn’t a perfect plan and she didn’t even know if it would work, but she had to try.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAoTX5dXa0cc
150Please respect copyright.PENANAdB0rD9UgEr
She crawled to the edge of the table. All eyes were on Joker as he lined everyone up by their heights. She focused on the door, and let out a breath before staying low to the ground and quietly as she could scooted closer to the door, using the upturned tables as cover. Once she was on the other side of the door, she rushed to the fire alarm and pulled.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAdCGEF6xFWr
There was a delay before the lights flashed and she could hear the water turn on.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAMXTkAcYdY0
THIS IS NOT A DRILL, PLEASE REMAIN IN AN ORDERLY FASHION AND PROCEED TO THE NEAREST STAIRWELL. I REPEAT…
150Please respect copyright.PENANAALubNFGbDn
“SOMEONE turn that off!!”
150Please respect copyright.PENANA6VdzO808Uq
Bianca scrambled away, phone in hand already dialing 911 while the emergency message repeated through the empty halls.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAB3SQ4KCTNj
“911, what’s your emergency?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAvbWh1WX36s
“Hello? I’m at the Wayne-Fox Center, J-Joker is here and there’s a bomb!” Bianca managed to say those words before she saw at the end of the hall a familiar silhouette. She dropped the phone and scrambled into the pitch dark room to her left. The ground was covered by inches of water.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAlFLylSJ6VL
She could still hear the operator's voice.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAKVAQFhK58Y
“Ma’am, I need you to remain calm. Ma’am? Miss?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANALMfEHhT1zu
“Oh dear, wrong number.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAOfuAQVMTLd
She heard footsteps after Joker hung up the phone before smashing it.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAORAV4lZcLY
“Come out dear, I’m not going to hurt you~”
He said in a singsong voice until his footsteps sloshed through the water.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAjleicJcHdq
“Ugh! These were new!” Bianca made a conscious effect to not flinch before he added under his breath, “That little bitch couldn’t have gone too far.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAkZsKJcIuqQ
A noise from down the hallway caught his attention and she watched as he went towards it.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAFxbUELBjqu
She let out a sigh after what felt like hours.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAnlC8zbxiPr
Okay Bianca, almost everyone should be out and safe…
150Please respect copyright.PENANAdYcyzl8aZj
150Please respect copyright.PENANA4Ej7IK7QhH
150Please respect copyright.PENANAo8MKzMAZtG
She stood up and carefully walked the opposite direction that the Joker had. She froze as she heard someone running towards her position but there was nowhere to hide here!
150Please respect copyright.PENANAKjEDKhiVJi
An explosion rocked the building and the wall in front of her collapsed along with the ceiling. She yelped as someone fell through and landed at her feet.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAV1rCoZ2xhB
It was someone in a Red Robin costume, this one was actually quite good, but that's besides the point! They needed help!
150Please respect copyright.PENANABf9777OAUt
She rolled him over and the helmet was broken. Her eyes widened in horror as she recognized the face.
150Please respect copyright.PENANATHFXVuzi9p
“Tim!?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAZKp8D9KX8b
Once he heard her voice he tried to get up.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAenAeij96uK
“Bianca? You shouldn’t be”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAFViSzVQP6o
“We need to get you out of here!”
150Please respect copyright.PENANA5uo3OBWyj9
She got him in a standing position with most of his weight on her. His arm looked bad.
150Please respect copyright.PENANArw1RAmwnIC
As she got to the stairwell, he kept repeating that he was fine. She didn’t care though.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAdPUN6fGqG4
“Tim! You need a doctor!”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAe0Vnr3X9dz
They exited the building at the ground floor around the back, looking like the delivery bay area.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA0r77JO87gb
“Okay Tim, we’re out I’m taking you to the ambulance!”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAulF6UMNvqF
“No. People can’t”
150Please respect copyright.PENANA6LtygsjiBX
He struggled in her arms until she relented.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAo52LnbTvJy
“Okay! Okay! No ambulances… but please let me take you somewhere! It’ll be off the books!”
150Please respect copyright.PENANATr051cBR5s
He nodded and she started to walk to a friend's place.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAFUStuDtHdX
150Please respect copyright.PENANAtwr2mdSejD
Oh I hope she’s home…
150Please respect copyright.PENANAiIFleDqzdy
150Please respect copyright.PENANAj8D8C5Kx71
——
150Please respect copyright.PENANAJo7iBR5mTZ
Bianca, almost dragging Tim at this point, arrived at a red iron door and banged on it.
“Carmellia! Please open the door! I need help!”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAnF5BQ8ZHIz
Soon the door was opened and Carmellia stood there and helped Bianca with Tim.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAPXcGqjQN6F
“Oh gods Bianca! What happened!?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAG2Gto6cOoT
“I was at the convention to get that extra credit for Wymans class and”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAZMTWXpgGam
“What? No! To him!”
150Please respect copyright.PENANArA2kBHDMhx
Tears streamed down Bianca’s cheeks as they put him down on the kitchen island.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAsEUWfWZGAl
“He fell through a ceiling! Joker had a bomb!”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAwjS3Pjj7Yp
Carmellia pulled back her star speckled hair and rubbed her hands together a cackle of energy rippling between them. She motioned for the other woman to have a seat nearby while she examined the man in front of her.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAGHfs98zpTg
Bianca sat on the floor watching her alien friend work her magic.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA38dZauK1A7
“Gods, Bianca. You’re lucky you got him here when you did. He’s a wreck…”
150Please respect copyright.PENANACFMAgjXqku
She glanced over with her empty white eyes and frowned.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAHIlTPVGgJw
“Who is he anyway?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANANZYzxnZUwb
“The guy that returned my purse… his name’s Tim.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAQQDX64q0DD
Carmellia only nodded while she peeled off his clothing. Bianca saw deep almost black bruises criss crossing his abdomen.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAPEjxBlxJai
“You can fix this right!?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAs3cNTOCnwk
“It’s a good thing you brought him here…”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAvzcGnLPxTj
Body tensed Bianca watched as the bruises dissipated under the energy from Carmellia.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAO0TVrFaChG
“Bianca, I need to look at you next.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAZqgtBKKHeK
She nodded and sat down. The adrenaline from what she went through was starting to fade at this point and she felt the blisters on her feet from running in her sopping wet shoes and socks.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAjKtJuTIkBT
“He was lucky you were where you were. So what exactly happened to you?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAS23GnfMU3d
150Please respect copyright.PENANAT79KN8MWa3
While Carmellia slowly healed Tim’s wounds, Bianca told her what happened, including almost being caught by the Joker.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAQit6oc104l
“Bianca… you saved those people. You’re a hero.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAV9sQi002gA
“No… I left so many to die…”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAXYh4GK6f81
The blue skinned woman lifted a hand and turned on the tv.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA65RVd6ELPp
It was live coverage of the event. Night wing had gotten the hostages out of the building safely and Joker and goons were already back on their way to Arkham. They were interviewing a man who described a girl who had escaped and turned the fire alarm on, he wanted to thank her but no one knew who she was.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAyDvEEGeNrw
“See?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANA3XMUippOJl
“I don’t need all that attention… People still died.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAVUBRf74WLo
“True, but less did. You saved this guy after all.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANANY6rbpNmQL
“And I’m so happy that I did.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAEbJyJDT3KE
She smiled as Carmellia put the outfit back on as best she could.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAFoiAwbNqOs
“Heh, I can’t really save his clothes…”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAwO6sf5Ts4v
“It’s a fair compromise. Do you want anything he could wear?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4RiFHO1oR
She shook her head.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAzzytVZ04qu
“Sorry. It’s time for your check up though.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAwc9WuTN1qi
Bianca nodded and let Carmellia give her the once over. Nothing was broken or really damaged. Some scraped knees and blistered feet but those would heal by themselves.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAs5agWjiiEe
“Um.. Carmellia, can I borrow your phone? I need to call Lindsey.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAOS0tKIgehl
“Sure, but why?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAboWy7fGnit
“She knows Tim better than me. I might be able to get someone to pick him up…”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAbk1teaQTHK
With a nod, Bianca was soon dialing Lindsey. She picked up within 3 rings.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAxwbdsqzq6g
“Hello? Carmellia? I wasn’t expecting a call from you.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAGRW3NFm4RS
“Actually… it’s Bianca, Lindsey. I broke my phone.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANACdy84ASlZa
“Oh no! Are you alright?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAxIP6LsX1Tt
“I’m just fine. Anyway… since you’re close with Tim, I was wondering if you had his address? He’s here with me and well… he’s uh… smashed.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAm6vL4lm7lr
“Tim’s drunk?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAO1qzj5EV3M
“Yeah…. I was shocked too! I just want to get him home so he can sleep it off but uh… I don’t know where it is…”
150Please respect copyright.PENANABOdQnBuT9A
“Okay. I’ll send Carmellia the address. Take care Bianca.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAUkIsLOphiX
“Thank you Lindsey! You’re the best!”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAaWLKAHoqKt
150Please respect copyright.PENANAhIMBT8f5yk
She hung up after they said their goodbyes and soon had the address in hand.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA7la4u3fZKX
“Um… Carmellia do you mind…”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAQsWZJgJ1v6
“Not at all. Help me get him in the car.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAAl3x1vlnjD
Between the two ladies, they got Tim into the backseat and buckled up in Carmellia’s Jeep.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAGCJQAXwHx1
They followed the GPS and pulled up to the large gate.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAy2dtB7igyr
“This is…”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAlVqaBApdu8
“Wayne Manor.” Carmellia finished.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA50mmkt0bOg
They looked at the unconscious man in the backseat in shock before Carmellia pushed the buzzer.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAJVwW1ltXpB
“Excuse me, I got...what’s his name? Right. Tim here. Lindsey said I could drop him off here?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAZkvVqB9xSi
“Ms. Lindsey sent you? Allow me to open the gate for you.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAG2dhUJWdH8
The gate soon creaked open and Carmellia drove forward, making a comment about it needing some WD40.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAsaiGfJ7IZN
When Bianca turned to Carmellia, her alien appearance was gone. A tanned woman with ashy blonde hair and grey eyes looked back at her.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAp6lfN5CcYH
“Bianca, he won’t remember any of this. You know that right?”
150Please respect copyright.PENANAgHhkIC3pma
“That’s okay. I’m not going to hold it over him or anything.”
150Please respect copyright.PENANATLGVxd8yCP
“I know dear.”
ns 172.70.100.135da2